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Captain Marvel had… feelings on the Super boy "situation", he didn't know why but he was…
mad?
upset?
disappointed. he decided.
he was disappointed with the way Superman was handling the Superboy "situation".
Captain Marvel wasn't stupid, he knew the whole thing was complicated, that there were, many, many factors that made this a difficult situation for all parties involved.
Superman hadn't asked for this kind of responsibility, his DNA had been stolen to create another being without his consent and Captain Marvel knew that the acts that lead to Superboy's creation where… immoral.
but a deeper part of him-
whatever remained of Billy…
-screamed at the injustice of it all, Superboy being left to watch as Superman flew off into the sky without a word to him. surrounded by strangers who knew he was unwanted and didn't know what to do with him.
somewhere in his mind Solomon was whispering about Billy's unresolved abandonment issues and that if they could still turn into Billy they should look into therapy.
but they couldn't turn into Billy anymore, so that didn't really matter.
of course Billy was still there- he was Billy after all, he just… wasn't the same, at all anymore and never could be.
Marvel shook his head.
~*~
the next few weeks have the league tense, everyone taught as one of Green Arrow's bow strings.
everyone wants something, some of the Justice League members speak in Superboy's best interest, they want Superman to take under his wing- or cape? Others are more cynical about it, they want Superboy locked away to be monitored like he's some sort of data leak or an anomaly that needed studied to make sure it didn't happen again. rude.
but most of the league makes it clear that they want Superman to "deal" with the clone.
and there are some, like Captain Marvel, who wisely choose to keep there mouths shut.
it didn't feel right to put pressure on him, to hand over unwanted opinions, considering the rest of the league already was. besides, he was Superman, he wasn't going to do anything especially cruel to Superboy, Captain Marvel had faith the man of steel would make the right choice.
maybe there was more of Billy left in him than he'd thought.
of course after nearly a month of keeping one's mouth shut someone with Super hearing notices. Captain Marvel had spent the last few weeks avoiding the Kryptonian by some Miracle of divine intervention he'd managed.
Barley.
But that all came to a head now, there game of one sided tag was over.
Although Captain Marvel would like to argue that catching him while he was holding up a literal building while the residents evacuated was cheating on Superman's part.
"need a hand?" Superman asked even as he took a place next to the Captain and did his part to hold up the building.
"thanks." Captain Marvel said trying to put on a polite smile even as he felt an awkwardness wash over him, burning building and all.
overall it was routine, absolutely no the kind of fire that warranted both Superman and Captain Marvel, but they both went about the usual routine , meeting with first responders, checking of the residents, making sure they all had arrangements through the justice league displacement program-
wow he never thought being a hero would mean filling out nonprofit forms.
Marvel had been about to leave when Superman grabbed his shoulder.
"can we talk, Captain?" he asked.
Marvel nodded, there was no reason not to. "of course, lead the way."
He followed Superman to a rooftop, away from civilians and prying eyes and Superman invited Marvel to take a seat next to him.
"i know your trying to avoid me." Superman said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"me?" Marvel asked nervously. "why would i do that?"
Superman sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "its about… him, isn't it?"
"him?" Marvel asked, carefully.
"the clone." Superman clarified.
"oh." Marvel nodded.
he's never wished for an alien invasion so hard before, it's kind of scary how much he wanted out of this conversation and the feelings it would dredge up.
"im… choosing to keep my mouth shut." Marvel said looking away from the man of steel. "y'know? nothing nice to say and all?"
Super man sighed. "good grief that cant mean anything good."
Marvel looked back at him, really looked at him, there was tiredness to him, the kind of tiredness that seeped into every inch of you.
"so what?" Super man asked. "you cant be around me without saying something about the whole thing?"
"i…" Marvel started. "i have faith you'll do what you think is right."
Superman looked surprised. "that's… refreshing to hear."
"i just have thoughts about it." Marvel added quickly. "like way, way, to many thoughts about it all."
"your not the only one Captain." Superman sighed again. "i cant blame you for it, you've been more respectful than some league members."
Marvel muttered a thank you softly, resting his head in his hand as he looked up a the sky.
there were so many stars out and Marvel finds himself picking out constellations both known and forgotten, dotting the stars like one of Billy's old worksheets.
Superman snorted after a moment and looked up at the sky too.
"what do i do?" Superman asked quietly.
Marvel shrugged. "you always said you wished there was someone like you, now you have it."
"its not the same." Superman argued. "he's… made."
"i was made." Marvel said so quietly he isn't even sure he said it out loud, its not a good argument anyways.
he isn't the same either.
"you always reach out a hand for anyone." Marvel says. "why is he any different from any other lost child who needs a help?"
Superman looked away. "i cant be his dad."
"you don't have to be, you just… have to be there for him." marvel said. "He needs to know your in his corner."
"what do you think?" Superman asked after a while. "of this whole thing?"
it was Marvels turn to sigh. "i think he's a just a kid."
"And?" Superman questioned.
"that's why your having such a hard time dealing with this." Marvel said. "he's not a lump of Kryptonite Batman can lock away for you, he's a whole human- uh a whole person, who feels things, he cant be ignored unless you choose to ignore him, and that will hurt him, and you are not someone who wants to hurt people like that."
Clark nodded. "so what would you do?"
Marvel looked up again. "from what i understand he's old enough to understand whats happening, he's old enough too see the league fumbling for a way to deal with him and that… its a confusing, terrible feeling to be surrounded by people who don't want you and don't know what to do with you, even when you did nothing wrong."
oh gosh dang it, here were all of Billy's complicated feelings.
"and you don't want him alone to ride that out," Marvel added. "people crave attention from those who are supposed to love them, they'll do anything for a scrap of it, a chance for someone to see what they can be- terrible desperate things that they cant take back."
Marvel felt his hand tighten into a fist at the memories, the speed of the train, the smell of eternity, the fiery pain of lightning shooting across Billy's skin, tearing it apart to make way for the Champion.
For Marvel.
for someone who can do more good than me.
"Captain?" Superman asked, carefully, gently.
Marvel blinked back the wetness in his eyes.
Marvel stood up, stepping of the build in rising up. "but like i said, i have full faith you'll do whats best."
Superman stared, concern and pity swirling in his eyes.
"if you hurry Conner, will still be up." Marvel added. "it's team movie night- oh golly i forgot to help miss Whillabee-"
Marvel shot off across facet city.
~*~
marvel didn't hear about the incident again until the next league meeting, or after.
"i took your advice." superman said after catching him in the hall. "about talking to connor."
"oh!" marvel said. "that's good- that's good right? it went well? please tell me it went well?"
"it went well enough." super man said, the barest hint of a smile across his face. "he's coming to meet my parents this weekend, im hoping he'll want to stay with them."
marvel threw his arms up in the air and shouted.
and then promptly straightened up again.
"that's great- im happy for you both, im glad your figuring things out for our sakes." marvel said giving superman a friendly tap on the shoulder.
"our?" superman asked.
"oh yeah," Marvel agreed. "i had faith, but it had me worried."